Stroke Like Symtoms, Intermittent Loss of speech & Balance

[Likesjewellry]

About 1 1/2 yrs. ago, I started experiencing, at the age of 49, severe vertigo, visual problems, nausea and left sided weakness. I was tested for everything imaginable, no diagnosis and yet I went from being physically fit and a chef, to bedridden and sleeping 20 hours a day, because of all the gravol I had to take to get some general relief of my symptoms.  

This past February, still holed up in the house, I experienced the normal 'weakness' on my left side but it progressed to total paralysis, inability to speak and inability to swallow.  My husband gave me an aspirin when he realized I couldn't respond to him and took me to the hospital 5 min. from our home.  I was treated as a stroke patient and sent to the downtown Toronto Stroke Centre.  Unfortunately, by the time I arrive by ambulance, (about 3 hrs. later), it was too late to administer the 'stroke buster' shot that was planned.  After about 4 hours, slowly, I began to regain feeling in my left fingers and forearm.  I felt a burning/pins & needles sensation and within that time frame, my speech started coming back, though slurry and jumbled.  I ended up being sent back to my original hospital when in the ambulance, the whole episode started again.  It was like that, back and forth, speaking, drooling, paralysis until the next day around noon.  Again, every test was done (MRI, CT scan), 3 times, looking for the cause.

I am now much better and not needing nearly the amount of gravol that I used to but I cannot drive because I have lost my depth perception, ability to judge speed or distance, and am clumsy.  I walked 5 blocks a few days ago for the first time in 1 1/2 yrs., without staggering and bumping into things beside me.   I am still not able to go into busy stores or large box stores because within about 10 - 15 minutes, I start to develop the vision problems, balance problems and become sick to my stomach.  I can't tell you how this has affected my life.  I have a loving supportive family and good friends, though I don't see people often.  Watching people talk, their hands move, or trying to have a conversation in a large group sets the whole thing off.  I really don't understand any of this.

I am 50 1/2.  I am going through menopause, had some problem with depression after my kids in my thirties, and agreed after thorough testing that perhaps a neuropsychiatrist was an option.  My doctor felt perhaps it is emotionally based.  I agreed because I am willing to expore every avenue.  The doctor I am seeing is wonderful.  My husband comes with me to my sessions which are too far for me to get to on my own, waits for me, consults with the neuro doc and we sit in together and talk about things.  I truly am a happy person at this time in my life.  My girls are grown and successful, my relationship is great and I am basically free of burdens.  What the heck is going on??

Is there anyone out there who has experienced such symptoms?  Right now, I need to go and get gravol, typing this letter has made me sick.  I have taken medicine for migraine but I am still seeing only spots of my screen and have pain in my temples, forehead, base of my neck and general woozy feeling.  When I am like this I would definitely not go out in public.  I would either be down on the ground after losing my balance completely or my field of vision would be moving and making me throw up. I am still suffering from loss of words, memory failure, jumbled words, and stuttering.

Help!

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

I do understand how difficult it was for you.But you have been strong and your family has been very supportive.You are still lucky and blessed.

With regards to your symptoms, were your doctors able to give you a definite diagnosis ?

Were any cardiac problems ruled out?

Were your coagulation factor levels ( Prothrombin, APTT and fibrinogen ) evaluated?

Were your thyroid and parathyroid hormones assessed?

In the absence of any significant findings in the CT scan and MRI, you may be having basilar or vestibular migraines.These type of migraines may be difficult to  differentiate from a transient ischemic attack which is a cerebrovascular disorder. Basilar or vestibular migraines have been associated with vascular spasms at the base of the brain which may explain the reversible symptoms of slurring of speech, visual problems and weakness in the extremities.

Close supervision is necessary and I do understand that the attacks may be very disconcerting and almost debilitating. At this point, I can not think of any futher evaluation that may be needed.Continue with the medications,physical therapy and counselling as these are beneficial.

Also you may be open to other forms of alternative medical therapy like acupuncture and reiki (japanese hand or palm healing) which has been used by several physicians to complement medical therapy.

[Likesjewellry]

Yes, all of those tests were done. The neurologist attending also said there was no other tests  or help he could offer me.  Why did they not suggest anti-migraine drugs to me??  I appreciate your advice and will look into the options you suggested.  Terina

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Yes discuss the possibility of a vestibular or basilar migraine as a diagnosis in your case.This is of course given that you had a thorough assessment and other causes like a transient ischemic attack and other cerebrovascular disorders have been ruled out.

It is important to note that basilar, complex,ophthalmic or vestibular migraines are only given as a diagnosis when other conditions including blood and cardiac disorders have been ruled out.Discuss this with your physician and keep us posted regarding his/her advice.

[joshine]

Hi,
I was searching the net to see if I could find information on my moms problem when I found this site. Some of your symptoms sound not unlike what my mom is experiencing at the moment. Since christmas my mom has been very ill. We found out that she has diverticulitis (inflamation of the colon) and was put on steroids and other medication for it. However, shortly after starting the medication she began to lose her speech and her balance was off. The doctors said it was due to the steroids and the effects would wear off as her dosage decreased. However, these symptoms ony got worse. She was taken off the steroids, admitted to hospital and had a series of tests, MRI, CT, ECO, blood tests, etc. All came back clear. Two months on and her condition is deteriorating. She can't drive because the spells where she loses her balance are so frequent - she basically loses control of her limbs and has to try hard to keep herself together in public. Her speech goes every time one of these ''spells'' occurs. It's like she's drunk and can't get the words out properly and she's slurring. We're from Ireland where neurologists are thin on the ground and seem to be making no headway in finding a cause or solution. It's affecting her mental well being, making her feel old and debilitated. She's a very youthful 54yr old lady, who up to now was always on the go, keeping busy. Now she can hardly leave the house as these moments of loss of speech and balance are so frequent, minutes apart in fact. Could it possibly be emotionally related?? My mom has had a lot of tragedy in her life and I'm her youngest child only married 6months. I wonder is she feeling a  void in her life now none of her children are at home coupled with the tragedies of the past coming back because she never had any counceling to deal with them at the time. I'm very concerned and really want to get to the bottom of this. If anyone can offer advise I'd greatly appreciated.
A worried daughter.

[neecie73]

I just went to the hospital on Easter with Stroke like symptoms and was treated as such.  I am 35 years old.  They did all the normal tests MRI, MRA, and tons of blood work.  Although the CT scan showed something that they thought may have been a mini stroke the other tests ruled it out and they diagnosed me with a silent or atypical migraine.  I had all symptoms of a stroke.  The numbness, tingling, drooping of the eyes and mouth on one side, no facial expressions and I could hardly talk.  It has been one week and my strength is still not back on my right side and and my speech is still very slurred.  It is very frustrating for me so I cant imagine what it is like for you.  

[Likesjewellry]

As I write this neecie73, I just had to pick up my granola & fruit that leap from my hand! This is not unusual for me. The speech problems are still there, when I speak on the phone, my regular words/conv., are only okay for about 10 min. and then I start to 'lose' it. I know you are scared for your mom but please explore the possible emotional connection in all of this. Ask her doctor for a referral to a Neuropsychiatrist who specializes in all aspects of brain function. They are trained to deal with migraine, depression, epilepsy, atypical neurological symptons and do not differentiate between the illnesses at all. Their job is to unravel the 'mess' in the brain, try to help the patient understand what may be contributing to their problem and also to tell them the almost forbidden rule with doctors, and that is, 'we just don't know what is going on here'. I have found a wonderful doctor and go for therapy every month or so. I don't know if you have insurance but see if her doctor has any recommendations. In the meantime, tell you mom to hang on, I've found even 1/2 a gravol every four or five hours really helps the dizziness and balance problems and the nausea associated with it. Tell her to be brave, it will improve. Tell her to sleep, do any arts and crafts that she likes which works another part of her brain completely, and do not think she is going to be like this all the rest of her life. Depression sets in pretty quick when your world becomes so small. Good Luck and let me know how she is doing. You are a great daughter to be trying to reach out and find help or understanding of her condition for her. Sincerely, T.